ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Background. Phytoestrogens are a heterogenic chemical category in which are\r\nincluded: isoflavones (genistein, daitzein, glycitein, biochianin A, formononetin, equol),\r\nsome lignans from cereals, cumestrans, some components of volatile oils (anetol, scareol),\r\nsome steroid saponins (diosgenin) and some phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol).\r\nGenistein is the most discussed phytoestrogenic substance, because it is very well\r\nrepresented in the botanical sources - especially in Fabaceae (Leguminosae) species, and\r\nmainly in soybeans.\r\nAim. The actual study evaluates the quantity of genistein in soybeans\r\nMethods. We used three extraction techniques: extraction with hydrolysis, extraction\r\nwithout hydrolysis and, finally, extraction with hydrolysis and clean-up and HPLC\r\nidentification.\r\nResults The experimental results indicated the content of genistein /g soya using the\r\nextraction techniques described.\r\nConclusions. Our study shows that extraction without hydrolysis followed by HPLC\r\nchromatographic method detects the genistein from vegetal sources and offer a good\r\nmethod, proposed by us for the drug industry.